THE OTHER FAB FOUR

An autobiography from two members of the Liverbirds, a “girl band” from the same Liverpool background as the Beatles.

Bassist and vocalist McGlory and drummer Saunders grew up in working-class families in the 1950s and ’60s, and, like many of their contemporaries, fell in love with American popular music. Hearing other bands play in local venues, they began practicing and started their own group. After a few early personnel changes, singers/guitarists Val Gell and Pam Birch were the final additions to the band’s lineup. Featuring a repertoire based on tunes by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and other American blues and rock artists, the Liverbirds moved up to perform at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles made their initial impact. They made the acquaintance of the Beatles, Rollings Stones, Kinks, and other stars of the era. Their career took them to Hamburg, Germany, where they became a fixture at the Star-Club, another early Beatles stomping ground. The Liverbirds stayed together, touring Europe and recording in Germany, until Saunders became pregnant and, on doctors’ advice, gave up playing drums. That, except for sporadic reunions, was the end of the group—though McGlory and Saunders remained involved in music and entertainment. The two alternate chapters, recounting their experiences both during the band’s glory days and in the years since; accounts of the other two members demonstrate the strength of the bandmates’ bonds. “We knew we could rely on each other,” writes McGlory. The authors include a discography, and they create a vivid portrait of the ’60s music scene, full of good stories about themselves and a surprising number of other celebrities of the era.

An utterly charming reminiscence by two members of a band that made its own kind of history in the wake of the Beatles.